Two men trapped in an elevator are about to discover they have more in common than the inconvenience of lost time.

Dr. Mason Grant recognizes Parker Collins, whom he had loved during their senior year in high school, but Parker does not immediately recognize Mason. Maybe it’s the passage of time that has dulled his memory ... or maybe it’s the wheelchair in which Mason is confined.

As the two wait to be rescued, Mason recalls their six month love affair -- its uncertain beginning, its athletic highs both on and off the field, its romantic peacefulness spent at the Grant’s remote lake cabin, as well as its painful lows and horrific conclusion.

The teenage Mason realized there were two sides to his lover -- the confident Parker, an athletic hero popular with both teammates and female students, and the private Parker, who is unsure, sexually submissive, and needs to be cuddled and petted. All Mason wanted then was for Parker to love him, and not diminish what they shared by giving in to the social pressures that demanded he play out the role of football jock and studly lady killer.

Now that they’re grown men, what happens when Parker sees past Mason’s wheelchair and realizes who’s trapped in the elevator with him?

EXCERPT:Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS, WA, Columbus Day Weekend 1991

“If you didn’t want to come, you should have said.” Mason finally spoke up. Parker had been restless ever since they’d arrived at the cabin.

“Oh, babe, no, it’s not that,” Parker said, kissing Mason before snuggling back into his chest.

As soon as they’d arrived at the log cabin, the first thing Mason had done was light a fire in the stone fireplace in the main room, as well as a smaller one in the master bedroom. After they’d carried in the bags and supplies, the pair had crashed on the couch in front of the blazing fire.

“It’s my back. I took some hard hits today.”

Mason had watched from the bleachers as Parker had done his stuff, wowing the crowd of visiting Falcon fans as he tore apart the Jackson Raiders defense pretty much single-handed. Mason knew he was exaggerating, but he didn’t care. Parker had been awesome; he had scored a touchdown, gained 162 yards, and caught 7 passes. At the end they gave him the game ball. As soon as he had climbed stiffly into Mason’s Beretta he handed the ball to Mason.

“A couple of the hits were late.” Parker wriggled against Mason’s chest. “Those fucking refs were blind, or playing for the other team.”

It wasn’t like Parker to swear, especially when they were alone. “Want me to give you a back rub? I’ve got some massage oil around here somewhere.” Mason didn’t add that its usual purpose was as an aid to jerking off.

“Would you? I was gonna get one from the trainer after the game, but I knew you’d be waiting, and I didn’t want to delay us.” Parker had been given permission to leave the Jackson campus with Mason, rather than return on the team bus.

Mason sighed before gently pushing Parker from him and rising from the sofa. “You should have stayed. I feel terrible that you’ve been in pain all this time.”

“I’m tough.”

Mason leaned down and kissed the recumbent Parker on the lips. “But what few people realize is inside that macho stud super-jock exterior, you’re a real pussycat.”

Parker meowed.

As Mason rooted around in his bag for the massage oil, he marveled at how close he and Parker had become over the past week. He was no longer afraid of the big jock, but he still couldn’t get his head around the fact that they were boyfriends. When Parker had called him by that term the previous day, Mason had had to fight hard not to burst out crying.

“Okay, we best take this to the bedroom.”

Parker got stiffly to his feet and followed Mason down a short hallway.

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